BS: My broken arm is fixed!

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 09:18 PM

It's like being a member of a club, isn't it Linn! But now I've had the experience it's one I don't wish to repeat in a hurry.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 06:59 AM

Yee hah! on the bra!

When I was in physical therapy, I figured part of the pool therapy definitely included getting out of swimming gear and into real clothes (including that damned bra!) -- that was just (if not more) as physically demanding as what was required in the pool.

I couldn't drive for 3 months. And I think it was almost 5 months before I could pass a rubber ball behind my back (and scratch my right shoulder!!!).

Folding sheets from the dryer is still uncomfortable most of the time.

And, of course, I couldn't push myself out of the bath tub until just shy of two years. That was my personal standard for "healed".

Keep up the good work! Keep pushing it! It WILL all come back -- all it takes is work, work, work.

It's interesting, every time I meet someone who has recovered from a broken upper arm, the first thing we do is raise our arm straight over our heads to show how far we've come.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Morticia
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 06:49 AM

Rooting for you Jennie, slow but in the right direction is pretty good!

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:59 PM

Thirteen must be the age, Charlie....the last time I broke a bone I was thirteen. Let's hope it will be another umpteen years before I do it again!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:46 PM

Jeannie-

Happy to hear that things are getting better, and it does require quite a bit of work (and pain) and patience to regain full use of one's arm after such a smash-up.

I managed to break three bones in three separate accidents before I was thirteen. I've been much more careful ever since.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:49 PM

Morticia, isn't it a great feeling?

Yesterday I played a few chords, it wasn't too bad....G, C, D were fine but F was a bit harder, the strength in my index finger for a barre chord isn't there yet. But it will come. Still having discomfort which both the specialist and physio have assured me will gradually ease; it's due to the arthritis at the base of my thumb flaring up partly due to the injury and partly to the disuse. Today I will play a few more chords. I have a dreadnought and a classical guitar, I might start back on the classical because, although the neck is wider, it's a softer action.

Now I suppose I can't avoid housework any longer....bummer......

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: bfdk
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 08:36 AM

Glad to hear you're both mending :-)

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Morticia
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 06:11 AM

and I got my arm above my head for the first time since 4th August. Not for long and it hurt like hell but woot!!! Congrats Jennie, the long, slow haul feels better for some noticeable progress doesn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: GUEST,999
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 01:24 AM

Very pleased for you, Jennie.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 12:01 AM

Thanks, Sandra and Kat!

Ah yes Terry....poor Himself has been playing lady's maid for quite a while now! He became quite good at braiding my hair, considering we had no daughters for him to practice making pigtails.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 09:17 PM

I am sure you could always find someone to help fasten (OR UNfasten) Jennie

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 07:38 PM

Wonderful!

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 07:00 PM

lotsa' small steps make long distances

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 06:49 PM

I have a small milestone to report - it may not seem like much to blokes, but girls will know why I am dancing the happy dance. This morning I was able to fasten my bra myself for the first time since 15th Oct, the day of the Great TO Tumble.

Milestones still to come: using a ruler and rotary cutter (that's quilt talk); playing guitar; driving the car. But I will get there.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Gurney
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 06:22 PM

Comfrey. Commonly called Knitbone. But some of them are a bit poisonous.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 05:23 PM

Ayuh -- I broke my arm at age 58 after having never broken anything except a couple toes. (And, believe me, toes don't count!) I turned 60 last June. (I'm not old; I'm retro -- and that's cool.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 07:24 PM

The doctor wants to see me again this week, and I know he will be starting me on physiotherapy. But he said last Friday that he wouldn't be starting on it right away. Let's face it......I'm not 20YO any more, these things will take time.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 06:21 PM

You'll probably need physical therapy -- especially if the muscles atrophied at all while in the cast. I did rehab both in the pool and on land for three months and then for another couple months just working out with weights, stretchy bands, and weighted pulley thingies. By my last session in the pool I could pass a ball from hand to hand behind my back. I had full range of motion back by the time I ended working with a therapist.

Strengthening exercises with free weights, push ups against a wall, and workouts with stretchy bands, etc. have continued at home for the past two years -- it's taken that long to regain enough strength with my left arm to push myself out of the bath tub. That's what it took for me to declare myself healed.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 05:26 PM

Indeed Linn.....I can type with my right hand and the index finger of my left hand so far. The other fingers will follow in time.
VT, I told both doctors that I play guitar. Neither seems to think the range of movement would be impossible, it would just take time.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 11:26 AM

Typing with both hands -- posts here at Mudcat -- was a jumpstart on physical therapy (from 2 months after the break until 7 months after) and helped a lot.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 07:48 AM

hmmmm... did you tell the latter doctor that you hoped to resume playing guitar?

I am remembering when my daughter at 19 was studying vocal performance in uni, she was told that she may not sing until she had her tonsils removed. Our family doctor refused, so we asked for 2nd opinion and were referred to a doctor who backed him up. So we saw the 2nd doctor's associate for a follow up and he said he wasn't surprised she shouldn't sing. He was a young doctor. the 2 previous were old and set in their ways.   He told her she had tonsils of a 7 foot man. Then he proceeded to ask the right questions for getting the job done. Like did she snore and have trouble sleeping. She told him her roommate sometimes kicked her out of the room the snoring was so bad. That got the job done.

Didn't matter that her tonsils got infected every time she had a cold and that she typically had 3+ colds a year.

Point of the story... doctors do not like you to tell them their business. So if you have a lot of trouble resuming former activities, then you will need to press the case of that Canadian Orthopedist. It will mean another long stint in cast though.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 04:05 PM

There's a whopping great bruise at the base of my thumb which is quite tender, pressure from the cast has left its mark. That's the most painful thing at present, the stiffness is still there but it's better than 24 hours ago. The specialist suggested wearing a wrist brace (I already had one from a sprain last year) and that is helping to ease my arm from the weight of the cast to feeling totally unsupported. But even that is putting pressure on the thumb bruise so it might come off for a while.
The orthopedic doctor I saw in Canada would, if we had been staying for a bit longer, have had the break reset. But the doctor here seemed to feel that wasn't necessary. I'm just a layperson, what would I know?

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 12:02 PM

Jennie-

It is great to get the cast off, to be able to clean and scratch previously inaccessible places. However, I still remember how frustrated I was to find that it actually hurt to move my healed arm again. No one had explained about that, or I hadn't been listening if they had. It did get better and it will get better. Just keep working on it slowly.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 06:54 AM

You could have taken-up Amatuer dramatics - appearing in a big cast......



I'll get my coat

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Morticia
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 06:48 AM

A month.....you lucky, lucky thing! Seriously, so glad you are better and your wait is over. I am still waiting patiently ( oh all right, not very patiently) for a surgery date to fix my broken shoulder but soon, I hope, I will be joining you in triumph and general joyfullness.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: MikeL2
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 06:43 AM

hi jenny

Great stuff...

Many years ago I too broke my left hand....or some b....y clumsy 18 stone rugby player did.

I had the hand set.....reset and once again reset and finally after the cast had been removed and after a couple of weeks allowing for stiffness and lack of use to settle, I realised that though the bones in to back of the hand had healed perfectly, there had been an undetected break in the first knuckle. I was offered the choice of having the joint re-broken and reset but decided that I had had enough discomfort and inconvenience already. So I left it as it was.

I too played the guitar...semi pro.

Of course this injury did affect my playing somewhat. With practice and patience I was able to overcome the problem except for not being able to play six string barre chords any more. I have adapted to this and the extra practise that I put in actually improved my playing in other areas.

I was encouraged by the thought of Django Rheinhardt and considered my problem to be nothing compared with his. At the same time I was at times at the point of throwing my guitar away ( not seriously !!)when I listened to the fanrastic things DR could do after his injury.

So keep at it.....it pays in the end.

Regards

Mikel

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 06:40 AM

I WAS teasing Jennie, as you well know
However I AM pleased at your resurgence.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 05:58 AM

I broke my left arm at the elbow and fractured my right wrist some years back. The orthopedic surgery on the elbow caused some nerve damage, meaning I had quite restricted movement and loss of feeling in my left hand.

When the consultant found out I played guitar he encouraged me to try and play it as often as I could as it was an excellent way of getting the movement and feeling back in my hand. I think it helped no end! It was, of course, combined with a course of physiotherapy/exercises which are essential to get all the movement back.

I hope you make a full and rapid recovery - and Linn - I know exactly what you mean about being able to take a bath again!

Pete.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 04:23 AM

if you can't get the physio, google for good exercises and set up and stick to a regime of stretch and strengthen.

If you can get hold of a TENS machine, even better. They are pretty inexpensive these days and carried by most chemists (pharmacies).

I've never broken a bone, but I have rheumatoid arthritis so get a lot of joint stiffness and bone ache. I have a little trick for bone ache. Believe it on not, one of those microwaveable neck pillows filled with wheat kernels, but keep it in the freezer. It is not has cold as ice pack, but incredibly soothing.

Good luck. May you be strumming, knitting, sewing, etc very soon.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 04:09 AM

All Best wishes Jennie - When I roke MY left arm (Double fracture middle of upper arm) I also had ninetenn fractures and dislocations of my left wrist -THREE months after I had bought a Martin !
Take it seady , get all the Physio you can , and you'll be fine .

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:37 PM

Congrats on the cast-off.:-) Now, take it slow and easy and take good care!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Alice
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:28 PM

Yay, Jennie! Recoveries take patience. Take care.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:22 PM

Geez Ebbie....I have met some fanatics who can put me in the shade!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 10:25 PM

Until you talk with JennieG in person you haven't met a real quilting fanatic. Not a real one. lol

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: olddude
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 10:10 PM

Wonderful Wonderful news!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 09:56 PM

Thank you! I am guessing that it will be at least six weeks before I can do 'stuff' that I could do before the break....six weeks in the cast probably means at least six weeks of recovery.

Yes John, I could play guitar before - not the best in the world but I could/can play - hope I will still be able to - have had well-meaning folk ask why I don't take up another instrument while I am recovering. It doesn't matter what instrument you play, you still need two hands, Sherlock. As I broke my left arm and sprained my right wrist when I fell, I didn't even have one hand for a while.

Linn, I am not even going to try to drive for a while. Himself has been great helping me with stuff like washing my hair, and braiding it for bed (it's quite long); even being able to put my hair up will be an achievement when it happens. I think he will have to be chauffeur for a little while longer. I found out last week that I could sew, I had fabric squares left from a quilt I made a few years ago so I have been joining them using my 50YO Singer Featherweight machine. You have no idea how good making something feels after weeks of only being able to read, do crossword puzzles, watch TV (erk) and spend much time on the computer. But the computer has quilt design software loaded and that's been fun to play with too.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 09:26 PM

Likewise, commiserations and congratulations. For a moment when I saw this thread title, I'd wondered if I'd started it in my sleep or something. ;-)

Wednesday night -- two weeks shy of two years after I broke MY arm (upper part of left humerus, cobbled together with a high tech plate and screws) -- I was finally able to push myself out of the bathtub with both arms (my knees are shot). Which means, Wednesday night I was able to take and enjoy a leisurely bubble bath (with a hot buttered rum and a book) for the first time since December of 2007.

Yee hah! Two years of work and exercises to finally be able to do ALL of what I'd been able to do before taking a belly flop in my kitchen in my hurry to get to one of my last days at work after having given my notice.

Morning showers for getting clean and washing my hair work better into my current work schedule, but I really missed leisurely literary and stress reducing bubble baths with a tasty muscle relaxant (margarita, glass of wine or hot buttered rum), a good book and, perhaps, a cat to keep me company. (Cats hate showers.)

I was never in a cast -- but I couldn't drive for over three months.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 07:44 PM

Commiserations and congratulations, in that order, JennieG. I'm sorry it happened and glad that it wasn't worse.

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 05:57 PM

Great! A slow process, but it will come back if muscles and tendons OK. A neighbor broke hers while rock-climbing. Her instrument is the piano.

(Would crazy glue have been better?)

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 05:45 PM

yah, Jennie!

Subject: RE: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 05:36 PM

Congrats Jennie.
BTW, I assume you could play guitar before it was put on as well?

Subject: BS: My broken arm is fixed!
From: JennieG
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 05:16 PM

While in Canada last month I fell and broke my left arm - fortunately I'm right handed - broke the head of the radius bone off lengthwise, for those with a technical bent. I came home wearing a plaster slab cast, had that on for two weeks. The orthopedic doctor here had a fibreglass cast put on over the top of that so I was wearing two casts for four weeks, six weeks total. But it all came off yesterday! Yay!

But I have to get the hand and wrist moving again before I can play guitar. Or sew, or knit.....or anything much, really. But it is so good to have my arm back.

Cheers
JennieG